The
5040th Helicopter Squadron was activated at Elmendorf AFB,
Alaska (AAC) in 1969. The unit began with H-21B helicopters and
pilots that had been assigned to the 21st Operations
Squadron, 21st Composite Wing, Alaskan Air Command, at
Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.

A new
patch was needed and Captain Duane "Smoke" Daily, a
talented young officer, rose to the task. The design incorporated the
blue sky at the top with the stars of the Big Dipper, which was part
of the Alaska State flag. The round white "top of the world"
showed our location in the far North with white snows of the
glaciers. The yellow "swing" wings of the great flying bird
represented the helicopter. In the bird's strong talons were the
Lifesaving ring of rescue and the square box of supplies that we
carried to the remote radar sites.

Starting
in May 1970, the H-21's were replaced with 13 new Sikorsky HH-3E
helicopters that were flown 3,350 miles directly from the Sikorsky
factory at Stratford, Connecticut to Alaska. The H-21 pilots from
Eielson AFB, Fairbanks, Alaska were re-assigned to the 5040th
at Elmendorf.

The
5040th Helicopter Squadron was tasked with supporting
remote Early Warning Radar Sites and performing Search and Rescue
operations in interior Alaska. They were also responsible for
"Rescap" for the F-4's of the 43rd Tactical
Fighter Squadron stationed at Elmendorf AFB. They stood TDY Alert
with the fighters at Eielson AFB, Galena AB, and King Salmon AB,
Alaska. The HH-3E helicopter was an excellent aircraft for these
tasks because of its speed, cargo capacity, long range in-flight
refueling and water landing capabilities.

During
the 1971 spring floods in interior Alaska, the 5040th
H-3's flew many long hours evacuating and rescuing people from the
outlying villages along the Yukon and Koyukuk Rivers in central
Alaska.

On 25
July 1971, a 5040th flight crew participated in the
longest over water rescue for a land-based helicopter. The 10 1/2
hour mission, requiring 3 air-to-air refuelings, took them over 450
miles out to sea to pickup a Korean merchant seaman with acute
appendicitis and take him to a Kodiak Island hospital where
successful surgery was performed. (Entered into the Congressional
Record by

Alaska
Senator Nick Begich).

One of
the favorite sidelights of the 21st Ops and 5040th
was "Operation Santa Claus". The pilots gathered donations
and the wives assisted in sacking up candy, fruit and other goodies
that were then flown to the villages on the Alaska Peninsula near
Christmas time. A volunteer to be "Santa" was found among
the enlisted men at King Salmon and dressed appropriately. As the
helicopter flew over the village, SCHOOL WAS OUT as the eager
children ran out to see Santa Claus and get their bag of goodies.

The
5040th HES was responsible for countless rescue missions
in and around Cook Inlet and throughout the interior of Alaska. In
the first two years of service, the Squadron flew over 10,000 hours.

In
1975, the Squadron was deactivated and aircraft and personnel were
transferred to the 71st ARRS (MAC) at Elmendorf.

The
71st ARRS continued operation into 1990. In August 1990,
the rescue mission was transferred to the 210th ANG,
Anchorage, Alaska, who received 4 new Sikorsky HH-60G "Pave
Hawk" helicopters to support the mission.